First of two Vista Tower cranes is in the ground

Posted on January 3, 2017 by danieldschell

The two cranes of Vista Tower. West Crane, on the right, is set in its foundation. East Crane, to the left, is awaiting its turn.

Not only does Vista Tower win the First Tower Crane of 2017 Award, it wins the second tower crane of the year plaque as well.

Just as the City of Chicago promised us with the two permits filed on the last day of October and the second day of November, Vista Tower is putting two tower cranes into the freshly-caissoned ground in the New East Side neighborhood.

You’ll notice a striking difference between the two stub sections of crane that are now on site. “West Crane” where the taller towers of Vista will stand, looks like it’s on steroids when compared to “East Crane.” I wouldn’t advise messing with either of them, though.

Shout-out to bKL Architecture for being on-scene Tuesday morning and breaking the big crane news with an Instagram photo.

: In the distance, West Crane.

: Crews secure West Crane into position atop its foundation.

: East Crane looks on and waits.

: Lower Wacker Drive is a staging area of tower crane parts.

: Working on the foundation for East Crane.

: Another large hole in the ground.

: Upper Wacker Drive is getting some work done of its own.

Construction Progress: Optima II surpasses Optima

Posted on January 3, 2017 by danieldschell

Optima Center Chicago II stands up on its heels, accentuating the height difference between it and Little Brother to its right.

It was never a matter of if Optima II would rise higher than its predecessor, Optima Chicago Center, but a matter of when. That’s because we knew from the get-go that Optima Chicago Center II, at 220 East Illinois Street in Streeterville, was expected to rise a full 12 floors higher than the first tower, at 200 East. And 54 stories opposed to 42 stories, when compared apples-to-apples (apartment tower-to-apartment tower, in this case) will always win the height battle.

All that math a side, it’s been several weeks since 220 caught and passed 200, on its way to the aforementioned 54 floors (and 381 apartments.) Optima Chicago Center II is a design, development, and construction project of the multi-talented Optima, Inc.

: From humble beginnings: Site prep in December 2014.

: Caissons done, tower crane planted, July 2015.

: On the right, Optima Chicago Center II. On the left, Optima Chicago Center II reflected in Optima Chicago Center The Original.

: Oh man. Please be careful.

: The red and green cladding was a hit at the holidays.

465 North Park puts on a show of its own on Illinois Street

Posted on January 2, 2017 by danieldschell

465 North Park begins its climb skyward at North Park Drive and East Illinois Street in Streeterville.

Directly across East Illinois Street from the AMC River East 21 multiplex, 465 North Park is going all Hollywood with its real-life set design. Cast and crew from Power Construction have been toiling away ever since the City of Chicago yelled “ACTION” by granting a full building permit back in September.

In the First Act, Case Foundation started drilling caissons in July, which will play the supporting role in keeping 465 North Park’s 48 stories above ground where they belong. Produced by developer Jupiter Realty Company, the 444 apartments designed by Pappageorge Haymes Partners will also include 181 parking spaces and 11,650 square feet of retail/commercial space.

Expect 465 North Park to open in limited theaters in 2018. Because it’s only in Chicago.

More from One Bennett Park, Streeterville’s future skyscraper

Posted on December 30, 2016 by danieldschell

One Bennett Park is on its way to 69 stories in Streeterville.

It’s barely been more than 2 weeks since the last update on One Bennett Park in this blog space, but skyscraper warrant extra attention while they’re still low enough to the ground to see. Plus, One Bennett Park has changes a lot in the past 14 days or so. Not only is the core growing, but there’s more ground work being done as well. And iron work. And there are lots of pretty colors.

Oh shoot, don’t take my word for it. Take my pictures instead. And take these friendly reminders about One Bennett Park as well:

Developer: Related Midwest

Architects: Robert A.M. Stern (with a hand from GREC Architects)

General Contractor: Lendlease

Address: 451 East Grand Avenue

69 stories, 280 apartments, 70 condominiums

Completion in 2019

: Hi there.

The Western saddles up and rides into Wicker Park

Posted on December 29, 2016 by danieldschell

Not to be confused with just any western, the movie above is The Western.

A new project from developer Vequity at 1920 North Milwaukee in Wicker Park, The Western is situated smack-dab under the Western Avenue Blue Line platform. The seven-story building, designed by Brininstool + Lynch, will contain 44 luxury apartments and 6,000 square feet of retail space.

Easily the most interesting feature of The Western will be this nugget from the full building permit, filed by the city December 15:

“…INSTALLATION OF 3,775 SF GREEN ROOF AND BOCCE BALL COURT AT ROOF.”

That means, very soon, a couple bros with beers in hand will be able to utter the sentence “Let’s go to the rooftop for some bocce, because THAT”S HOW WE ROLL!”

Yeah. Anyway, Vequity is not only the developer, but also the general contractor on The Western. And as you can see, they’re making good progress.

: The lot, before The Western moseyed along.

: The Foundation Permit. Giddy up.

: The Full Permit.

Solstice on the Park has a tower crane, just in time for longer days

Posted on December 28, 2016 by danieldschell

Hyde Park’s newest tower crane reigns high above Solstice on the Park.

About the same time the Winter Solstice was making its appearance, Solstice on the Park was planting a tower crane at 161 East 56th Street in Hyde Park. And now that the days will be getting longer (I’m ignoring the part about them getting colder, too), Linn-Mathes can really get busy on the foundations.

Note the parking configuration on this elevation drawing from Studio Gang.

The building Studio Gang designed for developer Antheus Capital will fit 250 apartments and a whopping 316 parking spaces into the 26-story tower. **Those parking spaces appear to be spread over six stories, two of which may be below grade, if the elevation rendering on the Studio Gang website is to be taken literally. The foundation permit calls for five levels of parking.**

Studio Gang, Antheus Capital, and Linn-Mathes comprise the same team responsible for building City Hyde Park, which opened late last year.

: See that tower crane way over there? I think that’s Solstice on the Park. Somewhat kinda pretty sure.

165 North Desplaines progress continues in the West Loop

Posted on December 26, 2016 by danieldschell

T’was the night before Christmas, and 165 North Desplaines lights up the West Loop.

165 North Desplaines, the 14-story, 199-unit apartment tower from GREC Architects, continues to grow in the West Loop. A foundation permit filed in June, and the full-build permit filed in October, have allowed Power Construction to go to town on the two-part project, which calls not only for the new residential building, but also for the rehab of 156 North Jefferson, a three-story office building with which it shares a lot.

When complete, 165 North Desplaines will also include retail and parking space, and feature the return of the Haymarket Monument, for now residing in Union Park to protect it from damage during construction.

: Gratuitous tower crane shot.

: 152 North Jefferson.

: The Foundation Permit

: The full-build permit.

: Render of 165 North Desplaines from GREC Architects.

: The Haymarket Monument being removed from the construction site back in May.

: The Haymarket Monument in Union Park.

Topped off and glassed up, 30 East heads toward the home stretch

Posted on December 22, 2016 by danieldschell

A CTA Orange Line train passes 30 East, 30 East Balbo Avenue, in the South Loop.

You can see the light at the end of the tunnel for 30 East, the 16-story rental high-rise from Gilbane Development Company. The 134 student-centric apartments at 30 East Balbo Avenue in the South Loop are 99.8% cladded, with only a few panels yet to be installed near the top of the tower. Sadly, I hadn’t been by the site since the October topping-out, so I missed the tower crane’s departure. Which is okay in the end, because the same crane has probably already been installed atop another Chicago project.

Here comes the Wicker Park Connection

Posted on December 21, 2016 by danieldschell

The Permit. Let The Wicker Park Connection begin!

A permit filed Tuesday by the City of Chicago signals the beginning of the Wicker Park Connection. Another project from the combined forces of Centrum Partners and Hirsch Associates Architects, the Wicker Park Connection will fill the surface parking lot at 1640 West Division Street.

The Wicker Park Connection will be a 15-story building, bringing 140 residential units with 52 parking spaces, along with ground-floor retail. Linn-Mathes has been hired to be the general contractor.

: Rendering of The Wicker Park Connection from Hirsch Associates.

: Rendering of The Wicker Park Connection from Hirsch Associates.

: Rendering of The Wicker Park Connection from Hirsch Associates.

: The Wicker Park Connection will be the new neighbor of Centrum Wicker Park, another Centrum/Hirsch collaboration, seen here under construction back in August.

: Bye bye, surface parking lot. And a really ugly one at that.

: Looking through the soon-to-be-gone surface parking lot. That’s Centrum Wicker Park in the background.

Illume Chicago has broken ground, literally and ceremoniously

Posted on December 21, 2016 by danieldschell

Truth.

Controversial? Contentious? How about “underway”?

Illume, the condominiums for the West Loop from LG Development, has started tearing up the parking lot at 111 South Peoria Street. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on December 5, then two days later, the City of Chicago issued the building permit.

Designed by Pappageorge Haymes, the 10-story building will contain 79 condos, and include parking in the basement and first floor. Norcon has been signed on as general contractor.

https://twitter.com/PappagHaymes/status/805875985069510656

A rendering of Illume from Pappageorge Haymes.

The Permit.

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